HERBIE! Journeys on our narrowboat and the trials and tribulations of maintaining her.

Sunday, May 01, 2016

Arrival

Well after a trip of 109 miles and 107 locks, here we are at last at Cropredy, Herbie's new home for a year or more. It was, as I feared, blowing briskly across the basin when we turned in. Fearlessly, I pointed Herbie at the far end and gunned it, then did a handbrake turn when we got to the service pontoon and dear old Herbie swung into place as neat as you like. And, for once, someone was watching when I got it right. It was Dave the marina manager who came out to greet us and congratulated me on my boat handling!! Just like Crick, the staff here are very friendly and helpful, we were made to feel at home immediately.

First thing tomorrow, Herbie goes into the unusual floating dry dock.

After they pressure wash her, I'm going in to have a good butchers at the state of the hull and to inspect the prop and the rudder, then we're off home for a few days while Herbie gets a rust proofing and three coats of bitumen.

Dave says he'll let us choose a mooring pontoon from a number available once the winter moorers move out. To be frank, they're all pretty much of a much. Fine, but not nearly as pretty as Crick. I suspect that we won't stay on the boat in the marina much, except when I'm doing jobs that need a pontoon. The moorings in the village five minutes down the canal are very nice, so we'll tootle down there if we need to if we are up here for a mini break.

Cropredy is a quiet little village,apart from when Fairport Convention have their annual festival of course. We've just been reading the Parish Council Minutes where the most exciting event was the removal of an abandoned Volvo. Oh, and they're having a Bottle Tombola at the Old Manor on 11th June. Book now to avoid the rush.